We’re coming up on the playoffs. That means the Clear Day Roster needs to be ready to go. That’s the list of players that can play for your team the rest of the season and into the playoffs. The Admirals have some interesting choices to make.

For example: how many defensemen will they take? Dick Van Patten would say eight is enough (I debated going with Grant Goodeve on that line but stuck with the dad). The reason is it will take three players to be hurt or in Nashville before the Admirals can add someone to the roster. If two (Cody Franson and Alex Sulzer) are in Nashville, the team will have six. An injury after that would allow the Ads to bring in another player.

Sulzer and Franson will likely be on the roster. That leaves six. You figure Nolan Yonkman, Scott Ford, Jon Blum, Robert Dietrich and Teemu Laakso are in That leaves one spot for Mark Matheson, Reid Cashman or someone else. Remember in 2006 when Milwaukee added Steve Lingren to the Clear Day Roster?

The goalies are set with Mark Dekanich and Chet Pickard.

Up front, these players should be shoo-ins: Mike Santorelli, Mark Santorelli, Nick Spaling, Hugh Jessiman, Dave Scatchard, Triston Grant, Ben Guite, Andreas Thuresson, Wacey Rabbit, Ryan Maki, Peter Olvecky and Chris Mueller. That would leave one spot open.

Plus, the team can add players that finished their college and juniors seasons without it affecting the roster. Players like Blake Geoffrion and Ryan Thang could be Admirals in April.

The roster will be announced Wednesday.

Moving on…

Thirteen former Admirals took part in the 2010 Olympics. Also, six of the 30 NHL head coaches (20%) were, at one time, an Admirals player, assistant coach or head coach. There should be a LOT of pride in those facts.

Congratulations to River Falls Co-op (Girls) and University School of Milwaukee (Boys) on winning WIAA Hockey Championships. University School goalie Dan Smyczek stopped 45 shots to earn the win against Wausau West in the title game.

The best name, by far, at the 2010 WIAA State Hockey Tournament in Madison belongs to Green Bay East co-op girls player Sig Dangeur (pronounced Danger).

Until next time…Go Admirals!!!